The 1000 Days War


The 1000 Days War

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Written by Justin Gould

Monday, November 13 2006

The 1000 days war was a conflict critical to the creation of Panama. If there was no war, Panama would not exist. The war lasted from 1899 and 1902 and was fought between two of the major political parties in Colombia. The factions involved were the political parties Liberal and Conservative. The Conservatives had been in control of Colombia for over 80 years, but the Liberals were eager for their share in the control of Colombia. Note that when we say Colombia in this story we are really referring to Panama, which was just a Colombian territory at that point in time.

Unlike the Liberals who were a rag-tag group of peasants that fought with outdated weapons, the Conservative army was well equipped with modern weapons. Most of the guns used by the Liberals were gifts from the Governor of Nicaragua and misfired frequently. Even with this handicap, the Liberals were still able to beat the Conservatives in the first major battle of the war. It was a fierce fight which lasted for over eight hours and was fought in the City of David.

The win improved the moral of the men and attracted a lot of new recruits for the cause for Independence. On July 4, 1900, a shipment of new arms was secured from Nicaragua and Ecuador. At the time, the Liberals were camped out in Chame. The illustrious Gen Chaux, joined Porra´s Liberal army and had plans to attack Panama City and use La Chorrera and Chepo as launch points for their attacks on Conservatives moving through the area.

But the Liberals had something the conservatives lacked: a large Indian force of excellent fighters. They fought hard and took over the city of Colon. At the request of the US Consulate and the Railroad Superintendent, the US sent down marines under the command of Capt. Thomas Perry in order to protect American interest in the Panama Railroad.

The first treaty to end the fighting was signed on November 29, 1901 in the presence of Commander Perry and other American officials after the Liberal forces surrendered. Those present at the armistice were the Liberal Gen de la Rosa and and the Conservative Carlos Ablán.

The final defeat for the Liberal army was when Gen. Uribe was defeated in the battle of Nerlandia in Colombia on October 28, 1902. On November 19, 1902 all sides met on board the US battleship Wisconsin to sign a treaty ending all hostilities. Later in 1903 the Panamanians decreed themselves free from Colombian rule.

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Last Updated ( Saturday, April 21 2007 )

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